Why are others nurses rude to agency nurses?

I have just started agency nursing and I'm just wondering why the staff is so mean to a agency nurse. If we were not available to help they would be short? I have encountered rude people and just wondering what is up with that?

Specializes in Critical Care.
Hellllllo Nurse said:
In my experience, bad facilities w/ miserable staff treat everyone badly- staff, agency, and pts.

The opposite is true for good facilites w/ content staff.

Good facilities w/ content staff don't need to use agency nearly as much, though. So, what you tend to see working agency is the miserable staff.

~faith,

Timothy.

Wow, just asking for support and understanding as this is new for me and I feel people have blamed me for how I am sometimes treated as an agency nurse.I can assure you I am very good nurse and have good communication skills with many years of expericence, always makes me wonder why we have compassion for others but for our peers we are backbiting, judgemental etc...I never did understand this throughout my career...

Specializes in Med-Surg.
Wow, just asking for support and understanding as this is new for me and I feel people have blamed me for how I am sometimes treated as an agency nurse.I can assure you I am very good nurse and have good communication skills with many years of expericence, always makes me wonder why we have compassion for others but for our peers we are backbiting, judgemental etc...I never did understand this throughout my career...

I'm sorry that you've taken it this way.

My intention was to shed some light on why you are treated rudely since you asked. I don't think anyone here said you personally are a bad nurse.

There is no excuse for backbiting, judgementalism and rudeness in nursing. I don't understand it either. It makes for a bad day, but you just have to rise above, do your best for the patients and leave the drama alone.

SueBee RN-BSN said:
Frankly, many nurses have low self esteem, and just look for a reason to be nasty to anyone. They want to make themselves better than others, but it never works out for people like that. Just smile, and say "how nice ".

Now I know, you're nice. You're a wonderful person and what I hear from you now makes me happy. What we say , how we feel and how we see people and events is a projection of ourselves. ;) Keep it up!

Specializes in Critical Care.

For the record, the OP asked 'why?' and I listed some of my observations over the years. But, that should not in any way be conferred to be MY opinions.

~faith,

Timothy.

My question is this why is that the regular staff members are calling the agency nurses or CNA's lazy? and two there are the ones that would follow you around with a pen and paper in their hands writing down everything you do rather its right or wrong,plus they would run to their supervisior just making up lies and get away with it?

Specializes in post surgical, tele, icu.

I've only worked a few shifts with an agency. I followed an experienced nurse who did nothing for her patients, had no idea how long either of them (ICU) had vitals signs that needed acted upon. Left things a mess and she's core staff. I've only been a nurse a year and a half and I took care of my patients, leaving nothing left for the oncoming shift from mine, taking no break, and offering to help. I got a nasty reception nonetheless. Then some of the girls talk about going for ritas right in front of me, ask me for another agency nurse's number so they can invite him...and leave me out.

The only thing I asked for all night was "where is ___ located" and what is your policy on doing ___, yet I felt they were all put out by my being there.

As a native Floridian and Southerner and as a traveler nurse:

- I have always been treated poorly, at least initially, in Florida. I could be the sweetest most abiding nurse on a unit, and at least initially, will get the "she gets paid more, so lets dump on her" attitude. And bad attitude begets bad attitude. If you continually dump on agency, NO ONE good will want to work with you. There are some facilities in Florida that NO ONE with any experience and an in with grapevine, will work (thinking of "Hellray" or "Deathray" Beach).

- No matter how much that YOU THINK we make, very few of us make that much. The only reason that I ever work Florida is to visit family and friends, not for any "so called" big bucks.

- Virtually EVERY facilitiy that I go to, I am designated first to float over regular staff. Which means if for 5 straight shifts in a row, someone has to be floated and I am on duty, I will be floated for 5 shifts in a row. If your facility has designated otherwise, that is a decision made BY YOUR FACILITY'S MANAGEMENT...and you need to be talking to them about that, as it is not "our" fault. YOU are responsible for what YOU put up with.

At my last Florida assignment, I was required by the contract SET DOWN BY THE FACILITY, to work a certain amount of overtime, which griped some of my coworkers. I personally would rather not work OT. I made it clear that OT was not my choice, but that of the hospital's management and that they should address it with them.

- Do you think that we do not earn any extra dollars that we make? You try it for a year or two. Try giving up your car, shipping your things, and flying into a city where you know absolutely no one, find your way around, set up cable/phone. Try finding a MD (especially if you have a complicated medical history), dentist, lawyer (for any legal matters), laundromat, without the close assistance of friends. Try doing reciprocity paoperwork - if you think life was difficult enough trying to get one license, try doing over and over again.

How many of you cannot eat, shop or tour by yourself? There is nothing quite like when coworkers are setting up lunch schedules, so that they go down in groups....as they cannot even think of eating by theirselves in the cafeteria.

And we have to do it all the time. And with a smile on our faces and a good attitude.

- We should not compare things to our previous facilities and we should not quote pay rates. By the same token, WHY DO YOU THE STAFFER ASK US:

What we think of you compared to others?

Is this the best/worst place that you have been?

What do YOU get paid?

What is you favorite place to work?

To answer any of these would be unspeakabley rude. Unless you have a very close relationship with me (have seen me naked in locker room, gone to the beach with me, eat at least 4 meals per week w/me, know my mom's maiden name, or have known me for at least 4 years straight.....it's close enough), you have no business asking that question and I have no business answering it.

- There are highly dysfunctional agency nurses, that can't get a job otherwise. And for each of them, there are several highly dysfunctional nurses that have worked at your facility for ages.....because there is absolutely no chance in heck that any other place would hire them.

- We will have to work most major holidays (unless contracted otherwise) and will get the crappiest schedule. Most places don't recognize us during the holidays or nurse's week. Last Christmas Eve, I got floated. The floor that I was floated had NO REGULAR STAFF nurse on it except the Charge for 50 some odd beds. We couldn't find anything, had no codes to enter the lockups...it was a dangerous nightmare.

- No vacation pay, no sick pay....enough said.

- No security - we can be fired for any reason. And then have to pack up all we own and get outta town within 24-48 hours.

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As to why staffers treat agency badly....they do it because they haven't figured that agency is not the "Enemy".

The "Enemy" is the lousy management practices that lead nurses to working agency and that result in lack of staff, leading to use of agency.

Well said...

Specializes in Critical Care.
Today is my birthday and I got 'fired' from my contract assignment as a agency nurse. Why? Because of a jealous staff nurse. I just got the position last week. Moments ago, I got a call from my agency that the assignment had been cancelled. Supposedly, I told a staff nurse I like working Corrections because I can sale tobacco to the inmates. Blatant, blatant lie! In fact, this nurse was telling me all the 'dirt' of the facility. I honestly believe she and others were involved in it and wanted to see how I would fit in.

It was obvious I am a square peg because I chose not to engage them in the conversation when my opinion was solicited. I should have left the area when the conversation began but again I now believe I was being screened or filtered or some crap. Then to top it all of the nurse said I was talking about my pay which I never do. But she had to sign my timesheet and on a sheet of paper she saw I had computed my hourly rate and hours worked just as an fyi to me and she made snide remarks.

In any event, I am kinda depressed. I just returned from a travel nurse position to work for three months in my home state before traveling again. I have no other income.

So, I have to bust butt to find a per diem job while I get a new travel assignment or either look for something more permanent here. Staff nurses can be rude to agency nurses but being malicious is really harsh. My livelihood is at stake and my agency didn't even advocate for me not that it may have mattered but gee, that to me is character assassination. Well, thanks for listening.

I know I can get a job it is just that the process is timely here and not only that I shouldn't have to. Oh well, maybe this is a blessing in disquise. It makes me want to be a silent worker on assignments but I can't do that either. Well, happy birthday to me!:biggringi :(

Happy Birthday anyway.

I believe things happen for a reason. This was probably the BEST birthday present you ever got, even if you don't know why.

But I AT LEAST can imagine a few reasons why.

~faith,

Timothy.

Thank you. I really need to hear something positive. If you believe in the power of prayer will you stand in agreement with me that God's will will be done in my life. sf.

I am sorry that happened to you. Things do happen for a reason and I bet something better is going to come of this.

Thank. I appreciate it.

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Happy BIrthday anyway..maybe this is your gift. I had a similar experiece with a local per diem hopsital where I had worked on off for 29 years; met a charge nurse on a unit I didn't usually work, and she made it clear she thought of outside support as scum. I remained pleasant, let her constant snide remarks slide off...was made a DNU by the the end of the shift (1800), but allowed to finish my shift (2015). Have had calls from 2 of the Nursing Supervisors asking where the heck am I? Had many staff people on the unit the night I was canned offer depositions and support.

It affected me. It affected my income and my local earning power...(corporate; one do not use covers 6 hospitals in a 60 mile radius). I did nothing wrong, but was not allowed the respect granted a staff nurse; not allowed to defend myself.

I was just offered a highly desieable staff position by that same hospital group. I delined with no regrets, and have struggled through Aug and Sept...but am leaving for what seems to be an awesome travel assignment that starts Oct 2 in my favorite area of nursng, days shift. My husband is stationed there (YAY)!

:chair::madface: :o

At first I was angry hurt humiliated...

I prayed for strength to endure until an answer was shown to me.

I wish you that peace and strength. Being a scapegoat or a target for others' issues is not a pleasant place to be.

I KNOW you'll find a better place for yourself.

best of luck!

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